Air Travel

Question:

Hi Whilst I may not be an expert in US law, if you’re correct about what you say below,"I was never informed of these conditions before ticket purchase", then you have a case with the company that sold you the ticket. The conditions of purchase form part of the cotract and if you weren’t reasonably expected to know of such conditions then it’s their duty to make you aware of the same.  And since they’re the experts (agents) and you’re not (assume "dumb cutomer" in law unless, say, you’re in the travel industry or have used non-refundable tickets before and were then informed) you are in a good position.   Of course, "reasonably aware" is critical here – if you’ve read travel books or magazines that talk about the advantages of full fare over discount fare . . . fyi, in Oz the travel agents have the process perfect – you have to sign stating that you’ve declined travel or cancellation insurance when you purchase a discount fare. Good luck, Gary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am wondering how many others buying advance air tickets on Alaska > Airlines have had this problem.  I bought a round trip ticket (Seattle > to Phoenix) through Footloose Travel in Renton, WA on June 2. > Agent:Myrna Kay Soper. Departure date 6-26, return:6-30. > On 6-20 I notified Kay Soper I would have to cancel the trip becuase of > a sudden medical emergency. I  asked for a credit card refund and was > told I held a "no-refund"  ticket but that I could use the face value of > the ticket (less $35) on any future Alaskan Air flight if used within a > year from now. > Since I was never informed of these conditions before ticket purchase > (and many of us do have occasion when it is imperative to cancel a trp) > I feel I was taken advantage of and would like to cauion others planning > trips to investigate before you sign on. Othewise, you may regret it.

Response:

I believe that Southwest is one of the other airlines that does not charge a fee for not taking a flight that you had purchased. One thing that I always suggest is that if you travel ticketless ( or traveling on a E- Ticket on other air lines) that you wouldn’t have to worry about having to exchange a ticket. You would just be given a credit to use up to a year from the date that you purchased it. I hope this helps a little.     Melinda

Response:

I am wondering how many others buying advance air tickets on Alaska Airlines have had this problem.  I bought a round trip ticket (Seattle to Phoenix) through Footloose Travel in Renton, WA on June 2. Agent:Myrna Kay Soper. Departure date 6-26, return:6-30. On 6-20 I notified Kay Soper I would have to cancel the trip becuase of a sudden medical emergency. I  asked for a credit card refund and was told I held a "no-refund"  ticket but that I could use the face value of the ticket (less $35) on any future Alaskan Air flight if used within a year from now. Since I was never informed of these conditions before ticket purchase (and many of us do have occasion when it is imperative to cancel a trp) I feel I was taken advantage of and would like to cauion others planning trips to investigate before you sign on. Othewise, you may regret it.

Response:

: I am wondering how many others buying advance air tickets on Alaska : Airlines have had this problem.  I bought a round trip ticket (Seattle : to Phoenix) through Footloose Travel in Renton, WA on June 2. : Agent:Myrna Kay Soper. Departure date 6-26, return:6-30. : On 6-20 I notified Kay Soper I would have to cancel the trip becuase of : a sudden medical emergency. I  asked for a credit card refund and was : told I held a "no-refund"  ticket but that I could use the face value of : the ticket (less $35) on any future Alaskan Air flight if used within a : year from now. Almost all airlines have change fee’s such as the $35 you mentioned.. For the most part, all advance purchase/restricted tickets are non-refundable. Just save your ticket for a future flight.   I find it hard to believe you were not told it was non-refundable, and as a given rule most people know that advance purchase tickets are non-refundable.  You can always dispute it with your credit card company if you wish and tell them you were not given the information that it was non-refundable. Regards, Steve

Response:

This is a standard policy with air travel and I think Alaska Airlines is one of the better ones for only charging $35 as other airlines will charge upwards of $75.     By choosing to purchase the least expensive ticketing option between two points, you make the compromise of less flexibility. Next time, purchase a full fare coach ticket for 5x what you paid out for your ticket and you will not have any problems with a refund. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I am wondering how many others buying advance air tickets on Alaska > Airlines have had this problem.  I bought a round trip ticket (Seattle > to Phoenix) through Footloose Travel in Renton, WA on June 2. > Agent:Myrna Kay Soper. Departure date 6-26, return:6-30. > On 6-20 I notified Kay Soper I would have to cancel the trip becuase of > a sudden medical emergency. I  asked for a credit card refund and was > told I held a "no-refund"  ticket but that I could use the face value of > the ticket (less $35) on any future Alaskan Air flight if used within a > year from now. > Since I was never informed of these conditions before ticket purchase > (and many of us do have occasion when it is imperative to cancel a trp) > I feel I was taken advantage of and would like to cauion others planning > trips to investigate before you sign on. Othewise, you may regret it.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : I am wondering how many others buying advance air tickets on Alaska > : Airlines have had this problem.  I bought a round trip ticket (Seattle > : to Phoenix) through Footloose Travel in Renton, WA on June 2. > : Agent:Myrna Kay Soper. Departure date 6-26, return:6-30. > : On 6-20 I notified Kay Soper I would have to cancel the trip becuase of > : a sudden medical emergency. I  asked for a credit card refund and was > : told I held a "no-refund"  ticket but that I could use the face value of > : the ticket (less $35) on any future Alaskan Air flight if used within a > : year from now. > Almost all airlines have change fee’s such as the $35 you mentioned.. For > the most part, all advance purchase/restricted tickets are non-refundable. > Just save your ticket for a future flight. > I find it hard to believe you were not told it was non-refundable, and as > a given rule most people know that advance purchase tickets are > non-refundable.  You can always dispute it with your credit card company > if you wish and tell them you were not given the information that it was > non-refundable. > Regards, > Steve

===== OTOH, Steve, if the reason was medical, then Kay should be able to ask the airline to waive the change penalty with proof. — Rob Schlesinger, CTC            Typed in Long Beach, CA – USA President                       Two Brothers Travel, Inc.

Response:

> OTOH, Steve, if the reason was medical, then Kay should be able to ask > the airline to waive the change penalty with proof.

I don’t think anyone thinks that Kay shouldn’t ask.  However, I believe Kay shouldn’t be surprised if the airline refuses.  If what Kay says is true, the true recourse is with the travel agent who allegedly violated standard procedure concerning informing passengers of the restrictions on nonrefundable tickets. — — Brian Charles Kohn RAB #Q01926, IRCA #A06644, QS-9000 #94-013 Speaking only for myself…

Response:

I actually used to work in refunds at AS… If you feel like your travel agent misled you, by all means take it up with your credit card company and refuse the charge.  Tell them you were not made aware of the conditions.  Alaska will get a chargeback, and Footloose Travel will get a debit memo for the amount, and that should be that. Jon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am wondering how many others buying advance air tickets on Alaska > Airlines have had this problem.  I bought a round trip ticket (Seattle > to Phoenix) through Footloose Travel in Renton, WA on June 2. > Agent:Myrna Kay Soper. Departure date 6-26, return:6-30. > On 6-20 I notified Kay Soper I would have to cancel the trip becuase of > a sudden medical emergency. I  asked for a credit card refund and was > told I held a "no-refund"  ticket but that I could use the face value of > the ticket (less $35) on any future Alaskan Air flight if used within a > year from now. > Since I was never informed of these conditions before ticket purchase > (and many of us do have occasion when it is imperative to cancel a trp) > I feel I was taken advantage of and would like to cauion others planning > trips to investigate before you sign on. Othewise, you may regret it.

Response:

> If what Kay says is true, > the true recourse is with the travel agent who allegedly violated standard > procedure concerning informing passengers of the restrictions on > nonrefundable tickets.

===== Actually, Brian, Kay was the travel agent that I was referring to, not the original poster of the message to which I replied, who was Steve. I’ve had this problem before…airlines will, frequently waive the change penalty on Non-refundables when the passenger, or close relative, was ill (it’s just about the only exception to the non-refundability rule).  I’ve only got a couple of clients that don’t hear me when I say "restrictions" or "non-refundable", so I have them sign a copy of the itinerary with the restrictions printed on it, acknowledging the restrictions /conditions of purchase. —– Rob Schlesinger, CTC            Typed in Long Beach, CA – USA President                       Two Brothers Travel, Inc.

Response: